Abdominal supporter.



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PATENTBD JULY 10, .1906. K. L. STORM. ABDOMINAL SUREORTBR. APPLICATION FILED OCT.Z3, 1905.

7'U'Z6L UNITED STATES PATENT orrroa.

ABDIOIVIINAL'SUPPORTER.

V Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented July 10,1906.

Application filed OcNber'ZS, 1905. Serial 'No. 284,025-- To alzl.u17to1n it may concern:-

Be it known that I, KATHERINE L. STORM, a citizen of the United States, residing at No. 1612 Diamond street, Philadelphia Pennsylvani a, have invented certain new and useful Improvements m Abdominal Supporters,

V of which the following is a specification.

My invention relates to abdominal sup-i porters and binders; and its object is to provide an improved abdominal supporter and binderiforuse in pendulous abdomen, tumor, pregnancy, ruptures, varicose veins, &c., and

especially to give efficient compression toabdominal walls after operations upon the kidney, liver, appendix, uterus, or Fallopian tubes, &C.-1I1 short, for any ,purpose for which anabdominal supporter'or binder may beused.

, a It is to be understood that Ido not desire to limit myself to the precise construction and arrangement herein set forth, as it is obvious that various modifications may be made therein without departing from the essential features of my invention.

With these objects 1n view my mvention consists in the construction hereinafter de- M scribed, and more particularly pointed out in the claims.

Referring to the accompanying drawings, Figure l is a front view of my invention, showing the arrangement of the supporter and binder. Fig. 2 is a rear view of theable means for mutually engaging each other and designed to dctachably close the binder firmly around the body of the wearer. This band, made of two-ply layer of either linen mesh or a knit fabric commonly called stockinet, has a tensile strength of many hundred pounds. It is also elastic in every direction, but to a much less extent'length- Wise of stitch and also ofbinder, and being formed of cotton, silk, wool, or linen threads is sort, light, flexible, and agreeable to the skin and capable of perfect adaptation to' configuration of the human form, 'while at the same time forming a glove-fittingbinder of great firmness and powers of compression. A second characteristic ofdny'invention is the novel method of retaining the binder in position by strap-like devices B, fastened around the thighs of the wearer said flvices being attached along a portionof their'iipper border to a portion of the lewer border of the body of thetbinder, as at b, in alocation covering the groin of the wearer. I

A third characteristic is the peculiar con; struction of the adjustable reinforcing-band. C. It consists of a fitted portion of nonelastic webbing C for the front of abdomen, giving a marked degree of firmness and stiffness where most needed, as over a wound or rupture, &c.,in .the upper, middle, or lower zone-of the abdomen. Attached to the opposite extremit es of this non-elastic portion are similar bands C, comprised of two-ply linen mesh or 'stockinet, forming the soft and elastic portions designed to embrace the sides or hips of the wearer, the free. extreme ties being provided with attachments C,

such as buckle and strap, to mutually engage each other behind the body of wearer. The non-elastic portion C of this reinforcing-band may be constructed of any non-elastic or stiffening material and is shaped to fit snugly over the part of the body to be supported.

It is preferably secured to the body portion A in'such a manner as to hold it in place, but to allow it such freedom of motion as is necessary to conform to the configuration of the. body, and this may be accomplished by stitching at one or more points or along a single'line, as is shown in the drawings at c. By this combination of non-elastic portion in front and soft elastic portions at the sides great power of compression and support with entire comfort and ease to wearer is secured in any attitude ofrest or motion.

It may be noted that my improved supporter and binder has all the advantages se cured by devices of this class heretofore woven with rubber or with rubber in some part of their construction and that it has further advantages in that it may bemade of material which is lighter m weight and thinner in texture, and therefore does not interfere with othergarments, such as corsets. It is lower in cost than rubber elastic. It is more agreeable to the skin and withal more .hygienic than devices containing steel,

leather, or rubber in their construction, because made of a porous material which perts. evaporation from the surface covered t, and is withal freely andconveniently hable. It is equally adapted to the .use

'n, Women, and children in all degrees of 5' activity or invalidisnn a a Having thus described my invention,.what

I claim is 1. In an abdominal supporter, the combination with a body portion of elastic material in the form of a band, an auxiliary supporter superimposed on the said elastic bodyband and comprising a fitted portion of nonelastic material, and hip portion of elastic material for holding the non-elastic fitted :5 portion in place with a yielding pressure, substantially as described.

2. An abdominal supportercomprising a bodyportion of knitted material, thigh-straps ofknitted material secured at their upper edges to said body portion, a non-elastic fitted portion secured at apoint intermediate the ends thereof to said body portion and straps of knitted material secured to the opposite end of said non-elastic portion and adjustable means for uniting the free ends of said straps, substantially as described.

Intestimony whereof Iaffix my signature in presence of two witnesses.

KATHERINE L. STORM.

Witnesses:

ALICE M. HACKLEY, AMELIA VEICKSEL. 

